#alternate TechCrunch » Feed TechCrunch » Comments Feed TechCrunch » From Kodak To Google, How Privacy Panics Distort Policy Comments Feed Hungryroot’s Vegetable-Based Pastas Are Now Available On The West Coast Klout Perks Is No More alternate alternate TechCrunch WordPress.com Menu TechCrunch Search * Follow Us * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Youtube * Flipboard * LinkedIn * Google+ * RSS * More + Youtube + Flipboard + LinkedIn + Google+ + RSS Got a tip? Let us know. * News + Channels + Startups + Mobile + Gadgets + Enterprise + Social + Europe + Asia + Old Crunch Network + Unicorn Leaderboard + Gift Guides All Topics All Galleries Video Shows * Apps * Breaking News * Bullish * Crunch Report * CES 2016 * Gadgets * Interviews * Reviews * TC Cribs * TC Features All Shows All Videos Events * TechCrunch Events * Disrupt * Startup Battlefield * Crunchies * Meetups * International City Events * Hackathon * Include * NFL’s 1ST and Future * TC Davos 2016 * News About * CES All Events CrunchBase * Trending * Apple * Google * Samsung * News * Startups * Mobile * Gadgets * Enterprise * Social * Europe Search TechCrunch Search TechCrunch ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) Search 9th Annual CrunchiesFind Out Who Will Win The Crunchie For Best Mobile App - Citymapper, Messenger, Periscope, Robinhood or Wish Get Your Tickets Today Policy * Texas Attorney General Says Texans Using DraftKings Or FanDuel Are Probably Breaking The Law Texas Attorney General Says Texans Using DraftKings Or FanDuel Are Probably Breaking The Law * Will 2016 See The End Of Closed-Source Politics? Will 2016 See The End Of Closed-Source Politics? * The Federal Government Must Act To Ensure That The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution Takes Place In The U.S. The Federal Government Must Act To Ensure That The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution Takes Place In The U.S. * Browse more... Google Glass * Mobile Virtual Reality Is The Ghost Of Christmas Past Mobile Virtual Reality Is The Ghost Of Christmas Past * What Google Sees In Augmented Reality What Google Sees In Augmented Reality * How Tech Titans Know To Pull The Plug On Projects How Tech Titans Know To Pull The Plug On Projects * Browse more... kodak digital privacy privacy * State Lawmakers Create Coalition To Overhaul Digital Privacy Laws State Lawmakers Create Coalition To Overhaul Digital Privacy Laws * Facebook Expands Tor Support To Android Orbot Proxy Facebook Expands Tor Support To Android Orbot Proxy * FCC Urged To Rein In Broadband Providers On Privacy Grounds FCC Urged To Rein In Broadband Providers On Privacy Grounds * Browse more... Crunch Network From Kodak To Google, How Privacy Panics Distort Policy Posted Oct 1, 2015 by Alan McQuinn (@AlanMcQuinn) * 0 SHARES * * * * * * * * * Next Story Hungryroot’s Vegetable-Based Pastas Are Now Available On The West Coast [privacy.jpg?w=738] Alan McQuinnCrunch Network Contributor Alan McQuinn is a research assistant at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a think tank focused on the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. How to join the network When a new technology comes out, people are generally good at seeing through the hype that is associated with it. Many technological inventions, after all, are not immediately revolutionary — despite what clever marketers might want you to believe. However, people are often bad about seeing through the outsized claims from another type of clever marketer: professional privacy advocates who routinely say new technologies spell doom to the privacy of those who use them. While these fears often never materialize, and the public comes to accept the new technology as they become familiar with it, time and time again people fall into the trap of believing exaggerated claims about privacy risks for new technologies. This cycle of panic-then-acceptance can slow innovation and adoption of new technologies. To be sure, some technologies have challenged traditional notions of privacy, or even presented new risks to consumers, and to the extent that there are legitimate risks of consumer harm, these concerns should be taken seriously. However, it is important to recognize that the privacy panic cycle is a detrimental one — with a long historical precedent. In 1888, when George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, the first portable camera, amateur photographers everywhere were delighted with the relatively inexpensive, newfound ability to capture everyday motion, or “snapshots.” However, despite praise over the invention, the Kodak camera also set off a privacy-charged panic. While many people quickly adopted the technology, others became terrified that thoughtless shutterbugs would take embarrassing pictures of them without their permission. People using the devices were soon labeled “Kodak fiends,” and the technology was banned from businesses, beaches and even the Washington Monument. In fact, one journalist described a situation in which young men in Britain formed a “Vigilance Association” with the sole purpose of “thrashing the cads with cameras who go about at seaside places taking snapshots of ladies emerging from the deep.” This hysteria died by 1910, as increasing numbers of people adopted the technology. The bans were lifted, and social norms developed around candid photography to act as a disincentive to rude behavior. By creating public fears about new technology, privacy advocates slow the adoption of beneficial new technologies. When it comes to privacy concerns for nascent technologies, however, history repeats itself. Indeed, other technologies would soon have their “Kodak moment.” When first unveiled in 2012, many thought the promise of Google Glass was extraordinary — a pair of futuristic glasses that could augment reality or live stream your world. Both the public and the press were fascinated by the technology. For example, it scored a 12-page spread in VOGUE magazine, was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2012 and earned praise from a host of other publications. Despite the enthusiasm for its potential impact, Google Glass received a huge privacy backlash. Many people saw its recording function as creepy, or mistakenly believed the device was constantly recording. Soon businesses started banning the devices from their premises. One group, called Stop the Cyborgs, offered free anti-Google Glass signs and art on its website for these businesses to notify customers the technology was prohibited. People even invented a nickname for the wearers of Google Glass, calling them “glassholes,” a phrase that harkens back to the “Kodak fiends” of the late 1800s. By creating public fears about new technology, privacy advocates slow the adoption of beneficial new technologies. But that is not the only problem with taking these fearful claims at face value. Overwrought privacy fears can lead to ill-conceived policy responses that either purposely hinder or fail to adequately promote useful technologies. For example, U.S. policymakers have delayed the adoption of various public-sector technologies, such as smart meters that monitor electrical usage, in part because of the pushback these technologies have received from overzealous advocates. We will continue to see the privacy panic cycle distort the public reception of new technologies unless we begin to recognize it. Technologies will always have some tradeoffs, and there is no question that we need smart policies that both mitigate concerns and optimize societal benefits. But when privacy advocates merely scare consumers away from innovation rather than working to create sensible solutions for integrating useful new technologies into society, they slow the pace of economic and social progress. Featured Image: Dan Bruins * 0 SHARES * 0 Share * 0 Tweet * 0 Share * 0 * 0 * 0 * * Advertisement Advertisement CrunchBase * Kodak + Overview Kodak provides imaging solutions and services for enterprises and consumers. It provides packaging, functional printing, graphic communications and professional services under its key segment, which is digital printing & enterprise and graphics, entertainment & commercial films. Kodak is known for photographic film products, It focused on digital photography and digital printing after the rise … + Location Rochester, NY + Categories Service Providers, Consumers, Enterprises + Full profile for Kodak * Google Glass + Description Google Glass is a type of wearable technology with an optical head-mounted display. + Website http://www.google.com/glass/start + Full profile for Google Glass TechCrunch Newsletters [ ] TechCrunch Daily Our top headlines Delivered daily [ ] TC Week-in-Review Top stories of the week Delivered weekly [ ] CrunchBase Daily The latest startup funding announcements Delivered daily [ ] TC Europe The top European tech stories Delivered weekly [ ] TC Gadgets Top stories about gadgets Delivered weekly [ ] TC Mobile & Apps Top stories about apps Delivered weekly [ ] TC Startups Top stories about startups Delivered weekly [ ] TC Social Media Top stories about social Delivered weekly [ ] TC Asia The top Asian tech stories Delivered weekly [ ] Crunch Network The best from our contributors Delivered weekly View More Enter Address ____________________ (BUTTON) Subscribe Latest Crunch Report * Facebook Sports Stadium Wants to Be Your New Sports Hub | Crunch Report Facebook Sports Stadium Wants to Be Your New Sports Hub | Crunch Report Watch More Episodes * Google Glass * kodak * digital privacy * privacy * Policy * Popular Posts Featured Stories * From Kodak To Google, How Privacy Panics Distort Policy Don Baer On Politician's Approach To Technology VIDEO | 12:03 | Breaking News * Werner Herzog On His Documentary Lo And Behold, Cockroach Movies And Moving To Mars Werner Herzog On His Documentary Lo And Behold, Cockroach Movies And Moving To Mars 1 hour ago | Matthew Panzarino * Get Ready For A Smaller iPhone 6s Mini Get Ready For A Smaller iPhone 6s Mini 4 hours ago | Romain Dillet * Netflix Makes Good On Promises To Crack Down On VPNs, But Blocks Are Short-Lived Netflix Makes Good On Promises To Crack Down On VPNs, But Blocks Are Short-Lived 5 hours ago | Sarah Perez * Forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S7 Benchmarks Leak Forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S7 Benchmarks Leak 11 hours ago | Natasha Lomas Latest From TechCrunch * Gravit Lets You Illustrate In Your Abode Or On The Road Gravit Lets You Illustrate In Your Abode Or On The Road 1 hour ago | John Biggs * Apple Has A New Apple TV Ad, And It’s All About Apps Apple Has A New Apple TV Ad, And It’s All About Apps 1 hour ago | Romain Dillet * Werner Herzog On His Documentary Lo And Behold, Cockroach Movies And Moving To Mars Werner Herzog On His Documentary Lo And Behold, Cockroach Movies And Moving To Mars 1 hour ago | Matthew Panzarino * A Day After Launch, “Exploding Kittens” Tops The App Store A Day After Launch, “Exploding Kittens” Tops The App Store 1 hour ago | Sarah Perez Up Next Hungryroot’s Vegetable-Based Pastas Are Now Available On The West Coast Posted Oct 1, 2015 CrunchBoard Job Listings * Principal Analyst - Marketing Technology CarMax * Architect - Enterprise Information CarMax * Senior Software Developer - Web Development CarMax * Online Systems Platform Manager CarMax * Team Manager- CRM CarMax More from CrunchBoard Advertisement TechCrunch [crunch-network.jpg] * News * TCTV * Events * CrunchBase About * Staff * Contact Us * Advertise With Us * Send Us A Tip International * China * Europe * Japan Follow TechCrunch * Facebook * Twitter * Google+ * LinkedIn * Youtube * Pinterest * Tumblr * Instagram * StumbleUpon * Feed TechCrunch Apps * iOS * Android * Windows 8 Subscribe to TechCrunch Daily Latest headlines delivered to you daily [X] Subscribe to Subscribe to TechCrunch Daily Enter Email Address ____________________ (BUTTON) Subscribe © 2013-2016 AOL Inc. All rights reserved. Aol Tech Privacy Policy About Our Ads Anti Harassment Policy Terms of Service Powered by WordPress.com VIP Fonts by [b?c1=2&c2=6036210&c3=&c4=&c5=&c6=&c15=&cv=1.3&cj=1] * TechCrunch (BUTTON) * News + Startups + Mobile + Gadgets + Enterprise + Social + Europe + Asia + Old Crunch Network + Unicorn Leaderboard + Gift Guides + All Galleries Videos * Apps * Breaking News * Bullish * Crunch Report * CES 2016 * All Shows * All Videos Events * Disrupt * Startup Battlefield * Crunchies * Meetups * International City Events * Hackathon * Include * NFL’s 1ST and Future * TC Davos 2016 * All Events CrunchBase ____________________ (BUTTON) (BUTTON) Most Popular Get Ready For A Smaller iPhone 6s Mini 4 hours ago by Romain Dillet A Day After Launch, “Exploding Kittens” Tops The App Store 1 hour ago by Sarah Perez Forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S7 Benchmarks Leak 11 hours ago by Natasha Lomas Netflix Makes Good On Promises To Crack Down On VPNs, But Blocks Are Short-Lived 5 hours ago by Sarah Perez Why Cloud Computing Will Shake Up Security 2 hours ago by Tom Gillis Apple Has A New Apple TV Ad, And It’s All About Apps 1 hour ago by Romain Dillet SpaceX Tested Its Capsule That Will Send Humans To Space 1 hour ago by Emily Calandrelli These Are The Most-Watched Vines Of The Year 5 hours ago by Jordan Crook Google Reportedly Paid Apple $1B In 2014 To Remain Default Search Engine On iOS 17 hours ago by Jon Russell